Smartphones are beginning to put a lot of faith on unique gimmicks in a frenzied effort to stand out from the crowd. Case in point: HTC’s squeezy phone – the U11– was equipped with pressure-sensitive sides for quick-launching applications. Remember it? No, me neither.
But who can blame them? At a time where smartphones are essentially big rectangular slabs of metal and plastic, it’s getting tricker for smartphone firms to stick out from the masses. Sony’s new mid-range Xperia XZ1 joins this pack of showoffs, with a 3D-scanning feature unlike any other, but is it enough to get ahead?
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Sony Xperia XZ1 review: UK release date, price and specifications
- Screen: 5.2in, 1,920 x 1,080
- CPU: Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Camera: 23-megapixel f/2.0
- Price: TBC
- Release date: September 2017
Sony Xperia XZ1 review: Design and key features
Pick it up and the first thing you’ll notice is the 5.2in, 1,920 x 1,080 display on its front. It doesn’t do anything special, with a decent pixel density of 369ppi, but it’s a display that’s bright and clear – a good thing to have on a flagship beater.
It’s also a familiar device to hold, feeling just like Sony’s XZ Premium, with one crucial exception: it’s a tad chunkier than its flagship alternative. I don’t have specific measurements, but it does take up a little more space in your palm.
The square lump of metal looks like typical smartphone fare. There’s the usual diamond chamfered edging – a common feature these days – complete with rounded sides. Sure, Sony could have deviated from the norm, but the XZ1 is still a swish-looking phone at a wallet-pleasing price. I couldn’t ask for more.
Internally, the XZ1 is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 835 chip, the same processor found in the XZ Premium and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 8. Pair that with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard storage and Android 8 Oreo straight out of the box and the XZ1 is generously well equipped. This will be a speedy performer rivalling the most expensive of flagships, no doubt about it.
From a quick glance at the XZ1’s headline specs, the camera looks fairly unassuming. A 23-megapixel resolution and an aperture of f/1.7 is decent enough, however, and will serve you well in all sorts of lighting conditions. But the feature we’re really here to talk about is the 3D-scanning technology.
How does it work? Simply use the rear camera to map a face, head, some food or a freeform object, follow the dotted lines on screen and tap confirm. It’s not fiddly, and it’s not picky about lighting either: it’s fancy 3D-imaging tech that just works.
What’s most impressive is that the post-processing isn’t performed on some server somewhere: the rendering is performed entirely on the handset itself. It may not have any practical uses just yet, but it serves as a great impression of what to expect in the future, with the potential for future partnerships with its PlayStation division on the horizon.
Sony Xperia XZ1 review: Early verdict
Sony’s Xperia XZ1 is an impressive mid-range handset. Aside from the 3D-imaging gimmicks, the XZ1 is still a top-class smartphone, with bang-up-to-date internals, a bright, clear display and a design befitting of a mid-range handset. There is, however, one issue yet to be discussed.
We have no idea how much it costs. At the time of writing, even during my in-depth hands on session, Sony failed to release pricing specifics – and in my experience, this is rarely a good sign. My guess? This fancy 3D-imaging tech is bound to ramp up the asking price. If this is the case, Sony’s Xperia XZ1 is likely dead in the water before it even sets sail.
Read my full Xperia XZ1 review in the near future.
